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SONGS IN EARNEST; 



BY 



/ 



MRS. M. P. A. CROZIER. 

II 



^^^v 



^ 6 1887 



T'3 14-73 

.C7-r 



COPYRIGHTED 1887, 

BY 

Mrs. M. p. a. Crozier. 



WASHINGTON: 
J. H. SOULE, PrBLISHER. 

1887. 



CONTENTS. 



The Reformer, 

Words for To-bay, 

Lillie's Plea, 

1861, ... 

Fast Day, . 

A Rural Sketch, 

My Cabin Home, 

Mother, 

Childless, . . „. 

"No More Those Old Love Songs," . 25 

The Answer, 

Life, ... 

Welcome to Spring, 

Motives, 

' ■ • . 

To Celia, . . 

Be True, 

Little [lls, . . 

Prayers, 

' • • . • 

Mother's Prayers, 

' • • • 

, Duty, ... 
Dreaming, . . 

A Vision, 

Faith, . . 

Olivet, 

The Dumb Singer, 
Israel's Return, 
Only a Little While. 
Home at Last, 
"Old Hundred," 
The Lord's Supper, 



5 
fi 
11 
13 
15 
17 
22 
23 



26 

27 
28 
.29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 



39 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
49 



THE REFORMER. 



Grand man, who, standing forth to view, 
A full head higher than his peers, 

Whose eye, nndimmed by veils of gold. 
Looks through the future like a seer's — 

Man of great heart, who loves his race. 

As only men with great hearts can. 
AVho through all dark disguises sees 

The image of his God in man, 

Who reaches forth a fearless hand 

To rend the drapery of sin. 
To open prison-doors of doubt. 

And let the out-barred light break in — 

The shining forehead that he bears 
May be the mark for envy^s dart; 

The coldness of his friends may pierce 
The deepest recess of his heart; 

His time and nation know him not; 

He, like the Christ, may stand alone; 
He, like the Christ, be crucified. 

Because he lives to save his own. 

5 



e SOKGS IN EARNEST. 

WORDS FOR TO-DAY. 



Man of thought, and man of feeling, 

Do you see those children kneeling. 

Little hands clasped tight together, little lips 

slow moved in prayer ? 
Do you know what they are saying. 
Know why babes to God are praying. 
With the tears upon their faces and a look 

«of want and care ? 

Look upon the pinched features 

Of the sinless little creatures, 

As of some great sorrow breaking what 

should be a child^s glad heart. 
Man of love, of woman brother, 
Do you see those children's mother 
Lying crushed, and wan, and helpless on the 

pallet there apart ? 

On the coarse straw pallet lying. 
Woman, mother, famished, dying. 
Dying, starving, man of feeling, starving 

not a rood away. 
While with quiet satisfaction 
In your face, and in your action. 
You lift up your hands to Heaven, self-con- 
tented, day by day ? 



.SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Holy hands! May God forgive yon 

Angel bands at last receive you! 

But can soul and hands be stainless if you 

vote that wrong shall win ? 
Vote that drink shall curse your neighbory 
Take the wages of his labor, 
That the town may be the gainer by the tax 

upon a sin ? 

May the God of love have pity! 

What can citizen or city 

Gain by making league with Satan, gain by 

licensing a crime ? 
Justice holds the balance even, 
And the scales that weight in Heaven 
Hold a soul of greater worth than all the 

golden gains of time. 

Say not thou, idle sleeper, 

''^Lord, am I my brother's keeper ?^^ 

For the day of judgment cometh, and the 

King shall say to thee, 
^' As the low, the mean, dejected, 
Mine by purchase, you neglected. 
In the least of these my brethren, 

you have so neglected me/' 



SONGS IX EARNEST. 

0, the night is dark and fearful, 

And the saints of God are tearful, 

^Tis the wrong that wears the pur^^le, and 

the poor are trodden down; 
But the thrones of earth shall crumble, 
Christ uplift the poor and humble. 
For the mire is rich with jewels that shall 

shine in Jesus' crown. 

Long and sadly have they waited, 
Till the morn has seemed belated. 
Waited low among the shadows, hoping, 

longing for the light; 
Hoping, longing, praying, weeping. 
While the watch were idly sleej^ing. 
And the hours have seemed to lengthen, and 

more dark to grow the night. 

Man of God in pulpit standing. 

From your eminence commanding. 

Do you see the day-dawn coming, on the 

mountain-top afar ? 
Look, and cry its white awaking I 
Women's hearts below are breaking. 
Eyes below are watching, waiting — gazing 

on the morning star. 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Do you see the hosts that rally 
On the plain and in the valley, 
Hosts of God's undrafted freemen, brave to 

fight against the wrong ? 
Saint or sinner, man or woman. 
By your love for all that's human. 
Gird you for the coming battle, be j^ou fear- 



less, true and strong 



& ■ 



Patriot, statesman, man of power. 

Comes the God appointed hour! 

Seize its coming by the forelock, let the hour 

behold the man! 
By your love of God and nation. 
By your manhood and your station. 
By the homes that yoa would die for. onward 

in the people^s van! 

Preacher, priest, by Heaven appointed, 

God-endowed and God-annointed, 

Lift the standard of man^s freedom, firmly 

march against the foe! 
By the aid of choir and psalter 
Cheer the hearts of those that falter, 
In the name of Christ your Master, bid the 

people forward go! 



10 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Woman, by the fireside staying, 
Working, suffering and praying, 
Teaching children love of country, love of 

man and love of right. 
Woman, on the platform standing, 
Pleading, reasoning, commanding, 
Doing woman's noble duty, let your faith be 

glad and bright. 

Let who loves his God and neighbor. 
Faithful watch and faithful labor, 
Ijighting with his candle gleaming each a 

brother's doubtful way. 
Till the word of Grod be spoken, 
"^Mjet the night of death be broken!" 
And the eastern Heavens are lighted by the 

golden feet of day. 

For the time is growing nigher. 

When with love or cleansing fire, 

Christ will purify his kingdom, and his peoj^le 

shall be free; 
When the weak shall be the stronger, 
Sin shall mar and blight no longer, 
And the light of Heaven's glory over all the 

earth shall be. 



SONGS IN EABNEST. 11 

LILLIE'S PLEA. 



stay at home to-nigkt, dear papa. 
Stay with-baby Belle and me; 
We will make you — 0, so happy, 
In our little nursery. 

For F\e learned to say my letters, 
And the baby 's learned to walk — 
It would make you laugh, dear papa, 
Just to hear her try to talk I 

It was but the other evening 
Mamma held her on her knee, 
That she said ^'tum bat, dear papa,^' 
Just as plain as plain could be. 

Mamma cried when baby said it, 
Cried and hugged her to her breast; 
Mamma cries so much, dear papa, 
When she rocks us to our rest. 

Stay at home to-night, dear papa. 
Stay and sing to Belle and me, 
Sing once more the song we love so 
' Bout the little " Chickadee." 

Often mother tries to sing it. 
Then she stops and says so low, 
'^^Papa sings it best, my darlings" — 
Sing it for us, papa, do! 



12 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Stay at home to-night, dear p^pa. 
Ask her once to sing with yon, 
Sing and play npon the organ 
As she always used to do. 

Bring the flute from out the closet — 
Mamma loves the flute so well — 
Play once more for her, dear papa. 
Play for me and baby Belle. 

You will stay to-night, dear papa ? 
You will take us on your knee ? 
Mamma gets so tired, papa. 
Holding baby Belle and me. 

Are there those who love you, papa. 
In the places where you go ? 
Mamma, Belle, and Lillie love you — 
Maybe papa does not know! 

Are there those who make you happy. 
As we make you here at home ? 
Are there those who run to meet you. 
Glad as we to see you come ? 

Papa, papa, you^ll not leave us; 
Baby Belle will cry for you; 
Stay at home with us one evening 
As you always used to do! 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 13 

I861. 



— 0— 



it 



Not alone for country, soldier, 
In the sunshine lift thy blade — 
Not alone, for union, brave one, 
Let thy sacrifice be made! 
Holier is the bloody altar 
That demands thy noble life — 
For a greater cause this conflict — 
God has planned this awful strife. 

Not alone for country, mother, 
Give thy boy the parting kiss ! 
Not alone for union, father. 
Yield the son, thy heart must missl 
Country ! Union ! What is country. 
If that country love the wrong ? 
A¥hat is union, if that union 
Only make an error strong ? 

Lov'st thou country ? Lov'st thou union ? 
Love them, but love freedom more! 
Draw thy sword for all that's human— 
For manhmd thy life-blood pour! 
Doth a shackled slave behold thee 
Mingling in the fearful strife! 
Bid the lightning of thy sabre 
Cleave the darkness of his life. 



^4 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Good it is to cherish country, 
Well to love one^s native land, 
But above, where light is clearer, 
'Mong the bright angelic band. 
There is known a dearer virtue 
Tlian the patriotism we prize — 
Jesus Christ came down and taught us 
How they love beyond the skies — 

Came and taught us that God^s image. 
Wheresoever that image be. 
Having right to his affection, 
Claimeth human charity. 
Then, man, of larger loving 
Than of kindred or of race. 
All for whom Christ Jesus suffered. 
Let your hopes and heart embrace. 

And, brave soldier, while you hasten 
To the field of mortal strife — 
Where the sacrificial altar 
Crimsons with heroic life — 
Hasten not alone for country; 
View Jehovah^s greater plan. 
And beneath the Union^s banner 
Battle for the rights of man. 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 15 



FAST DAY, AUGUST 4, 1864. 


America, for thee 

We humbly bow the knee 

Again to-day. 
Before thy Heavenly throne, 
Great, Just, and Holy One, 
We fall in weakness down — 

Help us to pray! 

Our sins beneath thine eye 
In all their blackness lie; 

Mourn we in shame! 
We only plead for grace. 
Through Christ our righteousness; 
Unveil, God, thy face. 

In His sweet name! 

Judgments upon our land 
Have fallen from thy hand; 

We own them just; 
Yet hear the Nation's cry, 
Wrung from its agony, 
*'• God save us or we die; '' 

Thou art our trust! 



16 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Cast down our gods of gold 
Lord, we have bought and sold 

Our fellow men I 
Drenched is the land with blood, 
Thine is the fearful rod, 
Mercy, most gracious God, 

Pardon our sin I 

We put this sin away 

Far from our hearts to-day, 

Seekinsj thy face. 
God grant us victory I 
God save our liberty I 
God bless America 

With righteous peace I 



^n^^ 



-J 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 
A RURAL SKETCH. 



Softly drop the shadows 

Of a summer even''. 
From the gray old mountains 

Melting into Heaven; ■ 
Softly whisper breezes, 

Through the stately ^^ines, 
' Softly steals the moonliglit, 

Through the lattice vines. 

Sweetly sings the mother 

In the cottage door, 
Sings to baby Lucy, 

Sleeping Lucy Moore; 
Foot upon the cradle, 

Knitting on her knee, 
No more haj^py mother 

Blesses earth, than she. 

Out among the maples 

Of the little grove. 
Romp a half a dozen 

Children of her love; 
Screams of childish laughter 

Burst and die away; 
Mother knows they're happy. 

So she lets them play — 



18 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Lists the mountains echo 

Back their noisy glee, 
Thanks the loving Giver 

For her family, 
Prays a Father's blessing 

Rest forever more 
On the darlings playing 

At her ^cottage door. 

Down behind the mountains 

Drop the moonbeams pale. 
Darker grow the shadows 

In the little vale. 
Children hush their shouting, 

Hasten down the trees, 
Gather in the cottage 

'Round their mother's knees. 

Through the open window. 

From the nearest hill. 
Comes the sad complaining 

Of the whipporwill; 
Philomela's music 

Floats upon the breeze, 
And the owl is hooting 

'Mong the forest trees. 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 19 

Down among the rushes 

By the river side. 
Frogs are singing tenor, 

And the gentle tide, 
Lovingly responsive 

To the gift of song. 
Hums a softened alto 

As it glides along. 

Now within the cottage 

Sleeping ^mong the roses. 
Mother lights a candle 

x\nd the doorway closes; 
Draws the cambric curtains. 

Bends a moment o^er 
Little Lucy^s cradle — 

Blessed Lucy Moore. 

Softly lays a blanket 

O^er the darling child, 
Leavesf a mother's kisses 

Where she, sleeping, smiled; 
Takes again her knitting. 

Sits beside the stand, 
Happy as an empress 

'Mong her little band. 



20 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Willie learns his lessons, 

Mary learns to knit, 
Jennie draws a kitten 

On her Itttle slate; 
Nellie watches baby, ' 

Johnny goes to sleep 
On the soft rag-carpet 

At his mother's feet, 

While the gentle Lizzie 

At Rover's ev'ry bark, 
Lifts the cnrtain foldings, 

Peers into the dark. 
Watching for the coming 

Of an absent one, 
'Till her father's footsteps 

On the " Old Door Stone," 

Wake her gleeful shouting 

'' Papa's come," and she 
Opes the cottage doorwayj 

Clasps him by the knee. 
Lifts her lips all j)outed 

Ready for a kiss. 
And the father bends him 

Lizzie, love, to bless. 



SONGS IN EARNEST, 21 

Now a general rushing 

To the cottage door, 
Just to welcome father, 

Home again, once moi*e; 
Then a soft subsiding 

To a quiet joy, 
As the parent kisses 

Every girl and boy. 

And the large old Bible 

Takes upon his knee. 
Beads a Holy chapter. 

Prays, God, to thee. 
the household angels 

Ever love to come. 
Bearing Heaven^s blessings 

Unto such a home I 



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22 SONGS IX EARXEST. 

MY CABIN HOME. 



It was my lowly bridal home, 

The birth-jDlace of my child; 
And so I loye the cabin rude. 

My bilTrs-nest in the wild. 
Tho^ others haye their mansions fine. 

And smile at my low cot. 
For me it is of all the earth 

The dearest, sweetest, spot. 

The iyy and the climbing rose 

I 2)lanted near the door, 
Haye clambered up the log-ribbed sides 

And clothed the shingle o'er. 
And so it seems a paradise, 

Tho' rough, and rude, and small: 
And I should change it with a sigh 

For lofty palace hall. 

Upon the hearth in winter eyes 
The maple fires burn bright. 

And husband, wife, and darling child, 
Sit in the glowing light; — 

We sit and plan for future years, 
And ramble through the past, 

Tho' snows around our cabin drift, 
» And roars the winter blast. 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 23 

^Tis love that makes the hearth a home, 

And love has come to dwell 
Within the lowly cot weS'e built 

So close to ^^ Violet Dell/' 
And light shall be our daily toil, 

And we shall hajopy be, 
For love shall ever be our guest 

Around the household tree. 



MOTHER. 

Have you ever seen our mother — 

Gentle, blue-eyed, white-hnired mother? 
Always thinking some sweet love-thoughts 

For the children God hath sent her; 
Always doing some sweet something 

For the friends that God hath sent her- 
Mother, never seeming weary. 

Always bright and ever cheery. 
Mother who but whispers softly 

And the Saviour seems to hear her; 
Whom we know that blessed angels 

Must come earthward to be near her — 
Is there in the world another 

Half so good as our own mother ? 



24 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

CHILDLESS. 



No babe to nestle in lier bosom, 

No babe to call a wingless dove. 
No one to sooth to gentle slumber; 

How can she know a mother's love ? 
No babe to comfort in its weeping, 

No child to break her nightly rest; 
How can she know a mother's patience ? 

How canst thou call her tiuly blest ? 

No little children's hearts to love her. 

No infant kisses on her cheek. 
No little feet to run to meet her. 

No baby arm around her neck. 
She may be happy in the quiet — 

Soft quiet of her childless home; 
But in those halls there is no gladness — 

Gladness like that where children come. 

No little hands to put together, 

Teaching a prayer for Heavenly grace; 
No little hearts to lead to Jesus, 

No babes to bring for Him to bless; 
No little minds unfolding round her — 

Buds bursting into glorious bloom. 
Oh, what were life without our children ? 

God save us from a childless home. 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 25 

"NO MORE THOSE OLD LOVE SONGS.' 



No more, no more those old love songs, 

So lightly sing to me; 
With Jack^s true heart, my heart went forth — 

Went forth upon the sea! 

And when the ship in which he sailed. 

One stormy night went down. 
My poor heart broke; I saw her fate, 

And saw my brave lad drown! 

I told my^tale — they laughed and said 

'Twas but a dream — J knew 
Too well, sweet Jane, that dream of mine, 

That midnight dream was true! 

Then do not wonder that I ask 

You " Sing those songs no more;^^ 
We sang them — Jack and I — the eve 

The vessel left the shore! 

We sang them in the old west room 

The setting sun shone in — 
But nevermore shall Jack and I 

Sing love songs there again! 

The sun went down! — he kissed my lips 

And hurried off to sea, 
And half the night I watched the ship 

That bore my love from me! 



26 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

And since that night no tears have come 

To give my soul relief, 
I press my hand upon my heart 

And silent bear my grief ! 

And when you sing the dear old tunes. 
Jack sang that night for me. 

You strike for me a broken lyre, 
Whose strains are agony! 



THE ANSWER. 



You ask if [ will come to you 
And make your life one sunny day; 
I tell you that you ask too much, 
And I must say you nay. 
For if I come there comes with me 
Dark clouds and stormy weather. 
And under cold and dripping skies 
We oft must walk together. 
If this your wish — if you can tread 
The pathway opened for my feet, 
Fm willing, and if God shall will, 
Shall think His will is sweet. 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 27 



LIFE. 

— o— 

Lover bending his head low down 
Over a head with its curls of brown; 
Eyes like the eyes of a timid dove 
Growing soft with a tender love. 

Orange flowers in a maiden's hair, 

Altar, ring, and a low-said prayer, 

A bridal kiss, and a *^Miusband,'' '^'^ wife/' 

And the sun shines out on the glad new life. 

A mother, a crib, and a baby boy; 
Eyes that are filled with the light of joy. 
Watching it go from care all free 
Out into dreamland quietly. 

A sound just breathed for the tender ear; 
Quivering words that you hardly hear; 
Heart that is learning how blest may be 
The life that has bloomed in maternity. 



28 SONGS IN EARNEST, 



WELCOME TO SPRING. 



Welcome to Springs with her lap full of flowers; 

Heaven has sent her to gladden the earth; 
Beautiful sunshine and soft genial showers 

Bless the sweet life that she brings into birth. 

Welcome to Spring! Farewell to Old Winter I 
Let him go back to his northern home; 

Thanks for the health and the vigor he brought us, 
But brief be our parting, for Spring "fias come. 

'^ Welcome to Spring!'^ sing the birds in the green-wood, 
'•'Welcome, oh welcome!^' the bees in the flowers, 

"Welcomel^^ the lambkins that sport on the hillside, 
"Welcome! '' the children that dance in the bowers. 

'' Welcome! " are shouting the lads in the cornfields, 

Happy in guiding the furrowing plow, 
" Welcome! " comes up from the hearts of the lasses. 

Whose cheeks with the kisses of spring are aglow. 

" Welcome,'' speak softly the sick and the aged. 
Who drink the sweet breath of the spring floating in ; 

luring flowers and give them, mayhap they'll not tarry 
To welcome the coming of springtime again. 



SOJ^GS IN EARNEST. 29 

MOTIVES. 



^'I must write, I must write! ^' she said, 

''For my children are crying for bread;^^ 
And the burning words of her pen 
Went forth to the hearts of men. 

But they never knew, while their tears fell fast 
At the stories she told of want and woe. 

How the pathos came from a bleeding soul 
That had felt its sorrows so. 

"I must write — I must write!" she cried. 

For an angel had come to her side, 

And touched with a living coal 

The altar of her soul. 
God has given me light — His a fearful sin 

To hold the light in my bosom so! 
There are souls that move to the night of death. 

And I cannot let them go! " 

But he who stronger grew — 

By the strength of her good life fed — 

Who became more pure and true. 

When her earnest words he read, 
Never knew how she felt that she must, 7}iusi write, 

For the good of some child of earth, 
Kor her travail of soul to bring him forth 

To the light of a glad new birth. 



EC SONGS IN EARNEST. 



TO CELIA. 





They are gone, all gone, those bright sunshiny hours 

In lifers own beautiful May; 
They have faded and died like the springtime flowers — 

We knew they were passing away. 

They are gone, all gone, and their visions of life 

Half dispelled in reality's light; 
There is in it a mingling of pleasure with strife, 

Of sunshine with shadows and night. 

They are gone, all gone! Let them rest as a dream 
In the rainbow-crowned shades of the past; 

While we act in the present, and glide down the stream 
Of the future, Hill anchor we cast. 

They are gone, all gone! May the blessing of Heaven 

Rest over the hours to come; 
And though here the ties of affection are riven. 

May they be reunited at Home. 



SONGS IN EABNEST. 31 

BE TRUE. 



Hath God poured out upon thy pathway 

Floods of Heavenly light? 

Hath he implanted in thy bosom 

Love of truth and right ? 

Be true to all the light around thee, 

True to Heaven^ s plan, 

True to every noble impulse. 

True to God and man. 

Wherever in all the world thou goest. 

Scatter light about. 

The truth thou hidest will not bless thee — 

Speak it, live it out! 

The world may persecute thee for it. 

But thy God will smile. 

And better is one smile of Heaven, 

Than earth's all the while. 

The time will come when right will triumph, 

Though it long delay; 

There surely is for this bright planet 

Yet a brighter day! 

For this the prophets and apostles 

Looked with eager faith; 

To this the noble band of martyrs 

Testified by death, 



32 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Be true, then! God hath not yet called thee 

To the block or stake; 

But feeble are the sacrifices 

Thou hast been called. to make; 

But should thy life-blood be demanded 

In the earthly fight. 

Shrink not to lay it on the altar 

Of the true and rirjMl 



LITTLE ILLS. 

o 



I question, if to bear the greater ills 
God sends, we need the greater grace. 
The ceaseless coming of those little cares, 
The ceaseless toiling through the weary days. 
Tire out the soul and make us half forget 
That it^s a sin to worry so and fret. 

We brace ourselves against a gathering storm. 
Lie prone when desert blasts sweep o'er the land; 
We meet great fiames with fires we light ourselves. 
And on the broAvn, burnt sward securely stand; 
But thorns that pierce us as we gather flowers, 
Teach us we lack the grace we thought was ours. 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 33 



PRAYERS. 

— o- 



Sweet thoughts must come to those sweet son Is 
Who linger near to Heaven, 
And precious lessons they must learn- 
To others never given. 

Their trustful prayers are carrier birds. 
Forever on the winof. 
To bear up messages from earth. 
And loving answers bring. 

For God has tender thoughts for us. 
And knows how weak we are; 
And naught of all our sinfulness 
Can bar us from His care. 

The world moves heedlessly along. 
And in the blessing shares. 
And knows not half the debt it owes 
The good man's humble prayers. 



34 SONGS IN EARNEST. 



MOTHER'S PRAYERS. 



Lies the infant sleeping 
On its motlier^s bosom, 
Tender as the'i^etals 
Of the lily blossom. 

Pure as Heaven's crystals 
Falling on the lily. 
Falls the love of mother 
On her little Willie. 

Like iEolian mnsic 
In the summer even% 
Softly floats a breathing 
To the gates of Heaven. 

Jesus bends to listen — 
Jesus' heart is loving — 
And around the infant 
Angel wings are moving. 

Mother's prayers, how holy I 
When the darkling shadows 
Fall across the sunshine 
Lying on life's meadows — 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 35 

When, all wrapped in darkness. 
Weeps the orphan Willie, 
Weeps above his mother 
Buried in the valley, 

God will then remember 
All that mother" s prayers. 
And send a beam from Heaven, 
To dry the orphan's tears. 



DUTY. 

— o— 

Some may praise, and some may blame; 

Faithful, do the thing you ought; 
Trust the future with your name. 

To the present give your thought. 
Duty^s Alps before you stand. 

Crowned with 'Heaven" s eternal light. 
Cold, but shining pure and grand; 

Scale them in the strength of Right. 



'^W 



36 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

DREAMING. 

o 

Angel Sleep, I'm very weary; 
Come and softly close my eyes. 
Let me on thy magic pinions 
Soar away to dreamland skies, 
Soar away to Heaven's portals. 
There to list the seraph choir, 
List the strains of noble music 
They are sweeping from the lyre. 

Bear me up a little higher 
That I overlook the wall. 
That a view of Heaven's glory 
On my mortal eyes may fall; 
So that in the dark to-morrow, 
When I'm sick with worldly care, 
On my heart a blessed vision 
Of God's Heaven I may bear. 

This will give me strength to labor 
Yet a little longer here; 
Knowing when earth's toil is over, 
And the Shepherd doth appear, 
I shall doubly be rewarded 
With a palm of victory. 
Crown of glory, harp all golden. 
Robe of immortality. 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 37 



A VISION. 



0, 3^outhful and fair will she seem to be then, 
A glory to Heaven^s glad eyes; 
And as angels were here to rejoice at her birth, 
80 shall angels again be the guests of the earth, 
The beautiful bride of the skies. 

Then ''glory to God in the highest^' shall be. 
And peace shall descend like a dove, 
On the nations that smile 'neath the blue of the sky, 
As they bask in the light of the Infinite eye, 
Enfolded in Infinite love. 

0, listen once more to the wonderful chime, 
Stealing up from the ages to come, 
As the stars of the morning grow tuneful again. 
And seraphs responding with sweetest '' Amen,^' 
Touch their Ivres to welcome us home. 



38 SOJVGS IN EARNEST. 

FAITH. 

Not in tlie iw^onday^s dazzling glare, 

Xor when the heavens are clear, 

De^ western skies grow crimson bright 

And gates of gold appear. 

But when the heavens are liung with clouds 

And when the sun is set, 

AVe watch thro' twilight^ s deepening gloom 

The glor\' left us yet. 

And when the darkness gathers close, 

And closer on the earth. 

The shining stars like angel's smiles, 

Come twinkling into birth; 

And on the cottage household hearth 

The fires burn warm and bri2:ht — 

Ah! He wdio thinks of us by day 

Forgets us not by night. 

And so, when sorrow's twilight gloom 

Steals gently o'er the sky, 

The Christain soul with faith grows bright. 

And Jesus seems more nigh — 

Grows strong, and gladly lifts itself 

Above the shadows far. 

And looks into the gates of Heaven, 

\Miere God and angels are. 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 

And what we deemed was golden fruit 
We prove to be but dust- 
When fails the tender earthly love, 
That was our joy and trust. 
We will remember Heaven is true, 
And, lifting heart above. 
Thank God that we may come to him 
And find eternal love. 



89 



OLIVET. 



T 



The Lord has gone into the Heavens, 
The clouds are down over the skies. 
And Olivet, folded in shadow, 
In silence and loneliness lies. 

No longer the footsteps of Jesus 
Its solitudes sacred will trace. 
And losing the light of His presence. 
The earth is a sorrowful place. 

The ministry, tender and holy, 
That filled up His beautiful life, 
Is finished— His loving disciples 
Arc called unto toiling and strife. 



40 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Tlie angels in shining apparel. 
Who answered the look in their eyes 
With grand and uplifting evangel — 
They too have gone back to the skies. 

The flash of their beautiful pinions 
N^o longer amazes the eye. 
And sweet for the ear of the lonely 
No song droppeth down from the sky. 

But joy, like a flower, hath blossomed, 
And opeM are the lillies of peace. 
And down in the hearts of the loving 
There singeth the gospel of grace. 

Still tarries the Lord in the Heavens, 
The toilers are sleeping below. 
And Olivet lieth in shadow. 
And dark is the world in its woe. 

But Faith, in the music of silence, 
Sings sweet to the hearts of all men, 
The words of the two shining angels. 
That Jesus is coming again. 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 41 



THE DUMB SINGER. 

o 



My life is strongly out of tune, 

Its jarring discords pain my ear. 
I cannot sing as once I sang, 

My voice is neither sweet nor clear„ 
I love to strike the breathing harp, 

But when I touch the silver strings, 
They break beneath my fingers' play, 

The music all has taken wings. 

As Judah's maid, by foreign streams 

Could sing no more the song Divine, 
How can I sing the songs of Heaven 

When home and Heaven no more are mine? 
Weeping, I put my harp away; 

The music of my soul must be 
Dumb, if my life interpret not 

The sweetness and the harmony. 



42 SONGS TK J^ARKEST 



ISRAEL'S RETURN. 

o 

Israel, long wandering, backsliding from God, 

Return to the smiles of His face; 
He has caused thee to pass 'neath the chastening rod, 

But offers thee freely His grace. 

Though favored of God, in rejecting His Son 

There happened a blindness to thee. 
Thy branches were broken, and withered and strewn. 

Giving place to the wild olive tree. 

But from Zion a glorious Deliverer shall come, 
When the '^'^ times of the Gentiles^' are o'er; 

And shall turn from transgression the '' Prodigal Son," 
And his sins shall remember no more. 

The Lord will grant to thee a spirit of prayer, 

Israel! when thou shalt return; 
Arid a covenant new will He make with thee there, 

And thou of Messiah shalt learn. 

His laws He^ll inscribe on a tablet of mind\ 
Aye, they shall on hearts be impressed; 

But they will be merciful, gentle and kind, 
And give the obedient rest. 



SONGS n\ EARNEST. 43 

So shixll Israel be saved, through the grace of the Lord, 
Though so long he has wandered alone; 

lie will willingly list to the Heavenly word. 
That shall speak from the newly-built throne. 

0, the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! 

How unsearchable are all His ways! 
'i'hough sadly we bow 'neath the chastening rod, 

All redounds to His glory and praise. 



ONLY A LITTLE WHILE. 



" Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morn- 
ing.'' — Psalms 30:5. 

Only a little while 

Of walking with weary feet, 
Patiently over the thorny way 

That leads to the golden street. 

Suffer, if Grod shall will. 

And work for Him while we may; 

From Calvary's Cross to Zion's crown, 
Is only a little way. 

Only a little while 

Of toiling, a few short days. 
And then comes the rest, the quiet rest, 

Eternity's endless praise. 



44 SONGS IN EARNEST, 



HOME AT LAST. 



•^ In my Father'' s house are many mansions * * * I go to pre 
pare a jjlcicefor you.''^ — John, 14:2. 

**Home at last/^ on Heavenly mountains, 

Heard the " Come and enter in," 
Saved by life's fair flowing fountains, 

Saved from earthly taint and sin. 

Free at last from all tem^Dtation, 

Ko more need of watchful care. 
Joyful in complete salvation, 

Given the victor's crown to wear. 

Saved to greet on hills of glory 

Loved ones we have missed so long, 

Saved to tell the sinner's story, 
^aved to hear redemption's song. 

'^Home, sweet home," our home forever, 

All the pilgrim's journey past. 
Welcomed home to wander never. 

Saved through Jesus — ^^Home at last,'' 



;SONGS IN EARNEST. 45 



OLD HUNDRED." 



A wandering Scottish youth, taken captive by the Turks, was 
made a slave in one of the Barbary States. One night lie was 
singing "Old Hundred," and was heard by some sailors on board 
an English man-of-war, who surmised that one of their country 
men was a captive, and armed themselves, manned a boat and 
set him at liberty, after he had been in slavery eighteen years. 



Rocking gently upon tlie deep, 

White wings spread to the evening breeze. 
Quietly rode the English ship, 

Close to the shore of the Barbary seas. 

Sailors were lounging about her deck. 
Thinking of England far away, 

Thinking of wives that waited there, 

Holding their babes in their arms all day; 

Looking out on the wild, gray land. 
Wearily trod by the feet of slaves, 

Thinking how terrible it must be. 

The endless toil and the Turkish graves. 

Lazily flapped the ship's white sails. 
Overhead was the starlight's glow, 

Calm were the infinite depths above. 
Calm the unmeasured deep below. 



4B SONGS IN EARNEST. 

As long ago in the Roman time 

Paul and Silas in prison sang, 
And years ago in the sunny south 

Music of slaves through green groves rang, 

So from that shore, through the shades of night. 
Floated the music of Christian song — 

Softly and sweetly as sound of flute. 

Dear ^'^Old Hundred^' was borne along. 

It fell on the ears of the listless crew. 

Like a voice from the English home once more. 

And their hearts beat fast as they lowered a boat, 
And pulled away for the wild, gray shore. 

Under the light of the silent stars. 
Under the wing of the silent night. 

They bravely rowed to the Turkish land. 
Guided by song, and armed for fight. 

For they said to each other, "A slave! a slave I 
And an Englishman or a Scot is he; 

God punish us if we bear him not 
Away from the coast of Barbary. 

^^ Shame that a Briton for years should pine. 
And bend his back to a hoi^eless toil. 

And while English ships ride proudly by. 
Die like a dog on Turkish soil! '' 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 47 

As the stealthy liou^'s quiet tread, 

Was the moving of that boat to land. 
The slave had knelt for his evening prayer, 

Weary and homesick upon the strand. 

Softly a sailor stepped ashore. 

And knelt him down by the praying slave; 
Bared was his head, and full his heart; 

This was the man he had come to save. 

" Amen!^^ said the Scot, as he closed his prayer; 

'' Amen!- Amen!^' said the English tar, 
" God sent me here to make you free; 

Get into the boat where my comrades are!^^ 

And the captive grasped the sailor's hand. 
And they stepped in the boat and flew away; 

But never a single word they spoke, 
Till the water wide behind them lay. 

They flew, for the oarsmen worked with a will, 

And the boat was tossed on the waves like a feather. 

The ship was gained, and the Scot was free. 
And they all like children wept together. . 

And the Turkish lash was felt no more. 

And Barbary's shores behind grew dim; 
' Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,'" 

Sing, boys,^'said tlie captain, ^^you know the hymn." 



a q; 



48 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

The wind had risen and filled her sails^ 
And the ship was flying across the wave: 

She sped away like a thing alive. 

And God had heard the prayer of the slave. 

And it was grand to be free again! 

The sky was dark with scudding clouds, 
And the sea was singing a song below, 

And the wind was chanting among the shrouds. 

But the English sailors and the Scot, 

Sang as they never sang before. 
And the dear '^Old Hundred's'^ thrilling strains 

Were heard upon the deep once more. 

'' Praise God from whom all blessings flow, 
Praise Him all creatures here below. 

Praise Him above, ye Heavenly host, . 
Praise Father, Son, and Holv GhostI" 



mr?^ 



SONGS IN EARNEST. 49 

THE LORD'S SUPPER. 



Give me to drink, again, the cup, 

And taste the sacred bread, 
That tells how Jesus on the cross, 

For me, a sinner, bled. 
And let me feel as once I felt, 

Like some pure, gushing rill. 
The magic of his dying love, 

Through all my being thrill. 

Give me to drink, again, the cup, 

And taste the sacred bread. 
That tells how He, whose weary feet 

Up Calvary's hill did tread, 
Sliall, in a grand triumphal march. 

Return again to earth. 
And wake His humble followers 

To an immortal birth. 

That, though He tasteth now no more 

The red blood of the vine. 
He then shall take the cup anew, 

And taste the heavenly wine; 
Shall break the bread of life again 

To all the joyful band. 
Who shall his marriage guests sit down 

In the immortal land, 



50 SONGS IN EARNEST. 

Yes, let me take again, once more. 

The emblem that I love, 
To lead my thoughts away from earth, 

UjD to the courts above; 
To cause my hopes to grow more bright 

For the glad, coming day. 
And give me strength, a little while 

To wait, and watch, and pray. 




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